Revelation 10:5 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Revelation 10:5

Comments

The angel now raises his hand in a gesture that is used in the Old Testament to signify a solemn oath. It is a gesture used by Abraham (Genesis 14:22) and even by the Lord himself (Psalm 106:26; Ezekiel 20:5, 6, 15, 23, 28, etc.). In making an oath, the hand is not simply raised, but is raised to heaven. The meaning of this is that heaven is called to witness to the binding nature of the oath. God is called ‘Him who lives forever and ever’ to emphasise that there could be no more binding words that those that are about to be uttered. The kingdom of God which is being announced will never pass away. This oath is witnessed by him who will always be there to testify against breaking of the oath. The angel also swears by him ‘who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it’. The change that is about to take place is so profound that it will affect all those elements that God originally created. These profound changes cannot take place without the command and authorisation of the Lord. He who has made all things for his glory must decide the timing of their removal. He alone also is able to create a new heaven and earth to replace what is passing away. The seventh trumpet is about to bring us to the final hour of this world. There are further visions to come in the book which will focus even more clearly on the last hour, but if the scope of the seven trumpets is the entire gospel age, then we would expect the last trumpet to bring us to the end of the world, just as the last (the sixth) seal does.

Application

How long the saints have waited for this moment. The end of the world has seemed far off, something that future generations of Christians would enjoy, but which for most would be a very distant hope. And yet all that we desire most must wait for that day. We long to see the kingdom of God set-up in a way that will bring an end to Satan’s activity. We long to see the proud no longer able to vaunt themselves in the earth, to see injustice brought to an end and perfect equity established. The justice of this world is unsatisfying. So often the wicked get away with their crimes and some are discovered only after the perpetrator is departed from this life. The children of God have cried to God and said, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ (Revelation 6:10).

Questions

It might strike us as strange: that the eternal Son swears by the Father, but that is what he is represented in the vision as doing. In other words, it is the decision of the whole Godhead that the end has now come. The five months of the smoke and the scorpions is over, and the end is coming.

‘That there should be time no longer.’ There will be time for us in heaven – we remain finite beings – it only means there will be no more time in this present age, no more time to repent, no more time to turn to Christ; the end has come.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Revelation 10:5 Commentary and Bible Study